Not sure about Upson, but Southgate should be ahead of King in the pecking order, but having said that, King did impress against Portugal in that friendly. Why Eriksson persists with Heskey I don't know. I wouldn't even put him in the squad. Alan Shearer would be preferable if he could be persuaded, even if he is 33!

Only hope Beckham can manage to get through a whole game without being sent off :wink:

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Odd that. After being sent off at World Cup 98, Beckham got his disciplinary act together. He's been sent off twice for madrid this season. And I thought the days when he would 'Loos' it were history! ;-)

Alan Shearer would be preferable if he could be persuaded, even if he is 33!

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NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!

Have you seen him play recently? The fatigue is soooo evident, he's blown himself out this season. He needs the summer to recover so he can single handedly drag our strikeforce through the season one last time. If he hadn't retired internationally his career would have ended 2/3 seasons ago.

I mean if you want an alternative to Heskey, Shola for all his stumbling about is probably a better bet than the human carpet. At least he stays on his feet, they may get tangled up and he can't finish, but hey, neither can Emile!

Alan Shearer would be preferable if he could be persuaded, even if he is 33!

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NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!

Have you seen him play recently? The fatigue is soooo evident, he's blown himself out this season. He needs the summer to recover so he can single handedly drag our strikeforce through the season one last time. If he hadn't retired internationally his career would have ended 2/3 seasons ago.

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GC. I made that suggestion knowing full well that AS wouldn't countenance such a move, but even fatigued, he'd still be a better bet than Heskey!

I think Jermain Defoe deserved a look in instead of Heskey or Vassel who neither have played particulally well this season wheras Defoe has finished the season well at Totenham and could have gone into Euro 2004 on the back of that.
Also anyone but phil neville Probablly woodgate. Shame Rio Ferdinand was suspended ay
How bout Jon Stead. Straight from 3rd division into europe lol

So to business gentlemen.
Pick your first XI.
Mine would have to be along the lines of: 4-3-3
James;
G.Nev; Terry; Campbell; Bridge
Lampard; Gerrard; Beckham
Fat, Lazy, Diving, Gormless, (but big'n'strong, so Sven kisses his ass) Heskey; Owen; Vassell

Last season, Bridge lagged behind Cole in skills going forward, but playing regularly with this Chelsea side, I favour him to start ahead of Ashley.
Both Lampard and Beckham can tackle, so sit Gerrard deep and allow Frank and David to surge forward, unless Gerrard fancies a forage, when the two wide guys pull a few yards inside to close the door behind him.

If you're aiming long balls up to the donkey and he only has one partner to aim for and 4 defenders to contend with, I don't think Heskey will prosper. If he has two pacey li'l guys like Owen and Vassell playing off him, hunting for scraps, I have to say we'd look more likely to score.
In Michael Owen (if he sorts his fucking life out) and Darius Vassell, England possess two born goal-scorers. They just need a bit o' service.

Only hope Beckham can manage to get through a whole game without being sent off :wink:

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Odd that. After being sent off at World Cup 98, Beckham got his disciplinary act together. He's been sent off twice for madrid this season. And I thought the days when he would 'Loos' it were history! ;-)

Goalkeepers: I am gutted Chris Kirkland is injured as he is the best English Goalkeeper by far, also why Richard Wright and not Nigel Martyn on standby?

Defenders: From being the strongest position on the pitch we may have Caragher and Kind as the central pairing against Henry & Trezeguet......Oh dear!! Would definitely take Upson instead of King.

Midfielders: Good choice, definitely wouldnt start Butt as he cant even get a club game. Scholes is playing awful and I hope Sven gives up on his hero worship of the old Scholes and drops him from the starting line up.

Strikers: Owen obviuosly but on his own, I would have taken Smith and used either him and Rooney as a 5th man in midfield. When playing two upfront, Owen and Heskey every time from the strikers we have.

Apparently Nigel Martyn said he didn't want to be picked for standby and if he was to be picked for the squad he wanted to be first choice for the team. When he couldn't be guaranteed that he refused the invitation. I suppose in a way you can understand that. He is 38 this year and Euro 2004 would probably be his last big competition. So he would want to play rather than sit out a whole competition on the bench during a summer when he could be relaxing trying to keep in shape - physically and mentally - for his League team.